Good news for budding chefs

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

The first offshore training program by Win-Stone School of Culinary Art managed by the first Sri Lankan woman executive chef, Iyanthi Goonewardene will commence shortly.

Qualifications offered in Australia and the UK (at exorbitant costs) could be obtained locally at an affordable rate from Win-Stone which is accredited to conduct courses on culinary art.

Goonewardene said that on completion of the six months training program one could obtain 60 marks of the 120 marks needed for migration to Australia.

"The global demand for skilled chefs provides an opening for Sri Lankans to excel in the culinary industry which is fast developing with the revival of tourism across the world", she said.

The qualification offered locally is a huge saving on the drain of foreign exchange as it would be only one tenth of the cost in Australia.

"The scope for Lankan chefs in Australia is immense and the sky is the limit for those intending to make a mark in the culinary industry", Goonewardene said.

The Win-Stone Culinary School set up in 2004 has trained over 2,000 students and had reached many milestones in a short span of time.

The school was the first to launch an online cookery course in Sri Lanka.

The school in association with the Ministry of Education has trained over 1,000 students under the Distance Education Modernisation Project.

The institution obtained TAFE, South Australian certificate of recognition as the first offshore training provider of commercial cookery, level three in Sri Lanka.

Win-Stone assesses Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Those having three years experience at any hotel school could obtain the qualification through RPL. Goonewardene is the first to obtain the certificate IV in training and assessment from TAFE in culinary art in Sri Lanka.

On completion of the four-month diploma in cookery and bakery, students could obtain NVQ Level 3 which is recognised globally.

The school offers Sri Lanka, Australia and UK professional qualifications in cookery and bakery in addition to courses on fire fighting, first aid, computer applications, English for hospitality and business support skills.